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DAVID MCKEOWN/STAFF PHOTOS Blue Mountain’s boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay team poses for a photo with their sixth-place medals during the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships on Thursday at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium. From left to right are Stephen Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Chris Wilson and Mark Boran.

LEWISBURG — Going into the postseason, Reggie Crawford wasn’t sure if he wanted to swim the 50-yard freestyle or not.

The North Schuylkill sophomore decided to do it.

It proved to be a medal-winning choice.

Crawford surged from the third of four heats Thursday to place fourth in the 50 freestyle at the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.

On a day filled with plenty of ups and downs for Schuylkill League boys’ swimmers, Crawford notched his first state medal and the first in North Schuylkill school history, according to available records.

“It feels great,” Crawford said, then added with a smile, “I’ll probably swim it again next year.”

Crawford, who placed second at the District 11 meet behind Allentown Central Catholic’s Gabe Castano in 21.64, won the third of four heats in an area-record 21.11. He then sat and watched as the final heat took place to see where he would place and if he would earn a top-eight medal.

Castano repeated as state champion in the event in 20.50, with Schuylkill Valley’s Colin Gwiazdowski second in 21.06 and Wyoming Seminary’s Stan Zenski third in 21.09. Crawford’s time was the next fastest, giving him fourth.

“I just practicing hard and I just try to get the best swim I can in that race,” said Crawford, making his second straight appearance at the state meet. He said last year’s experience helped Thursday.

“It got away the nerves,” he said. “I was more ready this year than I was last year. I wasn’t really nervous this year like I was last year.”

Crawford wasn’t the only Schuylkill League swimmer to collect hardware Thursday, as the Blue Mountain 200 freestyle

It was the second straight year the Eagles won a relay medal, having taken seventh in the 200 medley relay last year. They’ll try to win another today when they compete in the 400 freestyle relay.

“I knew it was going to be very good competition,” Boran said. “I tried to keep up with everybody. A sixth-place medal … not too shabby.”

Added Stephen Johnson: “Even though we didn’t place as high as we wanted to, it’s all about the experience. Winning a medal is awesome. It’s great. We came here to win a state medal, and that’s what we did.”

Marian’s Danny Berlitz initially won the silver medal in the 200 IM with a time of 1:52.91, but was disqualified for a one-handed touch of the wall following his butterfly portion of the race.

Berlitz used a strong breaststroke to catch Wyomissing’s Nathan Elzer, but couldn’t close the entire gap over the final 50 yards of freestyle. Elzer won the gold in 1:52.62.

After the race, Berlitz learned he was disqualified. Boran, who placed 11th in the same event, was also disqualified for using an illegal kick in the breaststroke leg.

Berlitz will have another chance at gold today in the 500 freestyle, where he is seeded first. The sophomore said he’ll use Thursday’s mishap as motivation.

“Very disappointed,” Berlitz said. “I thought I touched it with two (hands), but I can’t judge what I do. It’s a good time. I’ll just use it as motivation for (today).”

Boran, who will compete today in the 100 backstroke, also wasn’t happy with the judges’ decision.

“Supposedly, I did an illegal kick off my one pull-out,” said Boran, who was clocked in 1:57.74. “You can’t really tell looking up.

“I was happy with the time, not real happy with the call.”

Other highlights from Thursday’s first day of states:

• Blue Mountain’s Stephen Johnson was 12th in the 50 freestyle in 21.57. He’ll compete again today in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.

• Nativity’s Ryan Schreffler was 14th in the 100 butterfly in 53.02. He’ll compete again today in the 100 freestyle.

• Marian’s Timmy Dando was 17th in the 200 freestyle in a career-best 1:46.31, while North Schuylkill’s Joey Antolick was 25th in the same race in 1:49.24.

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